Supporting Canadians with Disabilities

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 27, 2015) - Industry Canada

Canada has one of the top literacy rates in the developed world, but for some Canadians, this privilege also comes with certain limitations. Today, nearly 1 million Canadians live with a print disability such as blindness or partial sight, and some Canadians have mobility issues that prevent them from turning a page or pointing a cursor. For these Canadians, it can be especially difficult to obtain material such as textbooks or online resources in a format that is both accessible and easy to use. Canadians should not be denied opportunities to read and educate themselves simply because they are print disabled.

Today, Industry Minister James Moore, joined by representatives from the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) and the World Blind Union, announced that the Government of Canada will introduce new measures that expand access to materials in formats vital to those living with a print disability.

Canada will join the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled. The Treaty will give Canadians with print disabilities more and improved access to material from around the world in a variety of languages. It will also increase opportunities to import and export accessible versions of print materials, while ensuring the continued protection of authors' rights. These changes will help schools, libraries and charitable organizations that work with the visually impaired to reduce their costs.

Once the Marrakesh Treaty is in force, Canada will be one of the first G7 nations to fully implement it, giving Canadians greater opportunities to fully participate in society and the economy.

The Government will table the Treaty in the House of Commons on April 29, 2015.

Quick facts

• Only 7 percent of published books are ever made available in an accessible format such as an audiobook or a Braille conversion.
• When these measures come into force, Canadians with print disabilities will have access to 285,000 adapted works from 13 countries, in more than 55 languages.
• According to Statistics Canada, 35 percent of visually impaired students discontinued their education because of their condition, and approximately one third of Canadians who are visually impaired are not in the labour force.
• Canada's current framework already makes exceptions for the print disabled, including new exceptions introduced as part of the Copyright Modernization Act in 2012. As part of that modernization effort, the Government specifically included amendments to facilitate the cross-border exchange of accessible format copies and the circumvention of technological protection measures (commonly known as digital locks) for the benefit of persons with print disabilities.
• Economic Action Plan 2015 committed to acceding to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.

Quotes

"Canadians should not be denied access to critical educational, employment or social opportunities simply because of a print disability. Our government is standing up for Canadians with disabilities by implementing the Marrakesh Treaty, an international framework that will ensure Canadians have greater access to the content they desire. Canada is among the first G7 countries to fully implement the Treaty, which is vital to the well-being of persons with print disabilities worldwide."

- James Moore, Minister of Industry

"I am thrilled to be part of this event today highlighting our government's commitment to those with print disabilities. Whether a person has difficulties because of blindness or mobility problems from a spinal cord injury like me, I know that the measures our government is taking will help improve the lives of many."

- Steven Fletcher, Member of Parliament for Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia

"Our government is proud of the great work done by the CNIB in our riding of Don Valley West, and we are thrilled to further assist them as they increase access to published works for those who are visually impaired."

- John Carmichael, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West

"I'd like to congratulate the CNIB team and the World Blind Union for the diligence they've shown in this important matter over the last decade. Literacy is a fundamental human right, as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Canada has signed and agreed to uphold. On behalf of the CNIB community, I'm proud of the Government's pledge to accede to and implement the Marrakesh Treaty. This is an important day and, as an authorized entity for this initiative, an exciting first step for us to work together to make alternate-format printed materials accessible to all in Canada who need them."

- John M. Rafferty, President and CEO, CNIB

"As a person who is blind and loves books, this commitment from the Canadian government is exciting. Access to literature is essential for everyone, not just those who can read regular print. Right now only 7 percent of printed materials are available in alternate formats. This opportunity to improve our limited access to literature is a wonderful step by the Canadian government and will bring about real change for the 3 million Canadians who live with print disabilities today."

- Diane Bergeron, Executive Director, Strategic Relations and Engagement, CNIB

"On behalf of the World Blind Union, I'd like to congratulate Canada on this important show of leadership. With this commitment to the Marrakesh Treaty, Canada will be one of the first major countries to ratify the Treaty, a hugely influential step that will encourage other countries around the world. This is a significant step to end the book famine for people who are blind and partially sighted."

- Penny Hartin, CEO, World Blind Union

Backgrounder

The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons
Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled

Backgrounder

Almost 1 million Canadians live with blindness or partial sight. For these individuals, it can be especially difficult to find print material in a format that is both accessible and easy to use. New technologies can help to address this challenge. However, more can still be done to ensure that copyright laws do not create additional barriers for those with a print disability, and that users have access to the latest and best published material from around the world.

The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled aims to bring the global community together to better address the universal challenge of ensuring timely access to and wider availability of printed material for those who are visually impaired.

The Treaty sets international standards on certain exceptions to copyright so that print materials can be adapted into formats—such as Braille and audio books—that visually impaired and print-disabled individuals can use. The Treaty also makes it possible to distribute accessible-format copies between countries. The negotiations for the Treaty were led by the World Intellectual Property Organization, a United Nations organization with 186 members. Eighty countries from around the world signed the Treaty, signalling their intent to join.

To implement the Treaty, the Government will be making targeted amendments to the Copyright Act to bring it in line with the international standard established in the Treaty.

Once the Treaty is in force, Canadians will have:

• greater access to books in accessible formats in a wider variety of languages;
• increased opportunities to import and export accessible versions of books; and
• greater access to adapted versions of published works from other countries, which helps reduce costs and duplication in terms of the production of accessible format versions.

There will be benefits to many different groups of Canadians with print disabilities:

• Students will have better access to print materials, helping them to continue with their studies and better engage in the Canadian workforce. Recent survey data shows that approximately 35 percent of visually impaired students discontinued their education because of their condition.
• Workers will have greater opportunities. Current data suggests that approximately one third of Canadians who are visually impaired are not in the labour force.
• Seniors—the group with the highest rates of visual impairment—will have better access to reading materials, which helps to maintain their quality of life.
• Canadians from minority language groups will have better access to books in a variety of languages.
• Schools, libraries and charitable organizations that work with print-disabled Canadians will benefit from reduced duplication in the production of accessible works.

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